System for playing card games remotely

Abstract

A system for playing card games remotely includes both a multimedia communication system that allows players located remotely from each other to see and hear each other, and a "card toaster" and associated image recognition system at each game site which receives and manages a physical deck of cards at every site at which the game is being played. The toaster has the capability of (1) reading cards, for example, by scanning them, (2) finding particular cards, and, if necessary, sorting them, and (3) distributing cards, such as by dealing them. The system enables the players to deal and then play a game, such as the game of bridge, in a manner which closely approximates the manner in which a game is played when all players are co-located. Thus, once play is started, the image recognition system reads the cards played on a table at any site, and transmits information regarding those cards to the other sites. At the other sites, the card toaster is signaled and arranged to distribute the same cards, face up on the table.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for playing card games remotely including a multimedia communication system including audio and video communications means and arranged so that players at a plurality of game sites can see and hear each other, and   a card handling apparatus and an associated image recognition apparatus at each game site for receiving and managing a physical deck of cards at each of said game sites,   wherein said card handling apparatus includes means arranged to read cards, means to find particular cards, and means to distribute cards.   
     
     
       2. A method for playing card games remotely, including the steps of shuffling and manually dealing cards at a local site, such that each player at said local site receives physical cards, and such that cards for other players who are not present at said local site are dealt "face down";   upon completion of dealing at said local site, placing the cards dealt at said local site and intended for the players at said remote site in a first card handler, at said local site, said first card handler arranged to manage a physical deck of cards and including means for reading cards, finding particular cards, and distributing cards;   at a remote site, placing an entire deck of cards face down in a second card handler whereby said cards are read by said second card handler;   transmitting signals from said first card handler to said second card handler, and   responsive to receipt of said signals in said second card handler, finding the corresponding cards, and distributing said cards, face down, to said other players.   
     
     
       3. The method defined in claim 2 further including the steps of reading the cards played on a table at any site, with an image recognition system;   transmitting information regarding those cards to the other sites;   at the other sites, signaling a card handler at said site to distribute the same cards as those read, face up on the table.   
     
     
       4. The method defined in claim 3 further including the steps of placing a dummy hand of a game of bridge in one of said card handlers, face up;   reading said cards in said one of said card handlers;   returning said cards from said one of said card handlers;   sending signals to said card handlers at all remote sites, indicative of said dummy hand; and   in said card handlers at remote sites, finding the corresponding cards and distributing each face up.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus for playing cards games by players located at individual sites, said apparatus comprising a multimedia communication system arranged so that players at each site can be seen and heard by players at other sites;   means including an image recognition system arranged to read cards disposed on each playing surface being used by the players; and   a card handling system arranged to distribute, receive and manage a physical deck of cards at every site that the game is being played.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said card handling system includes means for reading cards by scanning them,   means for finding particular cards, and   means for distributing cards by dealing them.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said image recognition system includes a camera and means arranged to differentiate particular cards that have been placed on said playing surface. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said card handling system further includes a card deposit slot arranged to receive one or more cards, either face up or face down,   a card reader controller arranged to read the cards received by said card deposit slot and to differentiate the value (suit and rank) and the orientation (face up or face down) of said cards; and   means responsive to said card reader controller for distributing cards face up or face down.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said card handling system includes a control panel having an on-off switch, a reset button and a telephone call initiation mechanism.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said card handling system includes a microprocessor for controlling the overall operation of said card handling system and communication circuitry for acting as an interface between said card handling system and for providing signaling to similar card handling systems located at remote locations. 
     
     
       11. A method of playing card games wherein players at a local site complete with players at least one remote site, said method comprising the steps of establishing video and audio communications between said local site and said remote site,   interconnecting card handling and management apparatus at said local site and said remote site, said apparatus including means for reading cards by scanning them, finding particular cards, and distributing cards face up or face down; and   sending signals between said card handling and management apparatus so that actions at one site are duplicated at the other site.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes the steps of: inserting cards into said card handling and management apparatus at one site and, responsive thereto, distributing cards from said card handling and management apparatus at said other site.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes the steps of sensing cards placed on the playing surface at said one site; and, responsive thereto, finding cards of the same value and distributing said cards from said card handling and management apparatus at said other site.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes sensing the orientation of said cards by determining if said cards are placed in said apparatus face up or face down, and responding with different actions based upon the orientation of said cards. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes reading the value of a card played; recognizing the orientation of said card; and   communicating said value and orientation to a remote site.